THE MANSION

Opening up the vault and here is what is inside:

1. Cowboys are looking good. I keep waiting for Tony Romo to have a bad day, figuring that the opponents would have enough film on him to exploit his weaknesses. It has not happened yet. Most experts are saying for a guy who has not taken a snap in regular season play until his fourth season, he is very smart with the ball. I have to agree with that assessment. Remember when the offensive line was considered the worst in the league? What happened? It is still the same players yet seems to be doing better. Romo is no stick figure. I just hope this keeps happening.

2. The Giants worry me. I do not know how to explain it but I have a gut feeling that the Cowboys may lost this game. The Giants are coming off three straight losses and especially a very bad loss to the Titans. Eli Manning is playing dumb football, the injuries are piling, notably Amani Toomer and Michael Strahan, the troops are revolting, notably Tiki Barber and the team is playing with no heart, notably Plaxico Buress. The Cowboys are on the other hand have won 3 straight, the QB is playing smart football, there is a limited number of injuries, and all seems to be fine as far as morale. Why do I think the Giants are primed for an upset? It seems too easy to pick the Cowboys. Romo is bound to have a bad day sooner or later. Upsets happen often in the NFL. I also always worry about winning teams getting too complacent and overlook bad teams. The Giants pride is hurt right now and what would be better than a victory over the Cowboys? The Giants with a win are easily still in the race. It is not a longshot. A victory would put them at 4-0 in the division and and 6-2 in the conference. And they would own a tie-breaker with the Cowboys with a sweep. I never know what to wish for a team that is about to play the Cowboys the week before. A win for them against the Titans might have calmed the flames a bit and would not carry that extra fire they will have against the Cowboys. If the Cowboys win it will be 13-10 and I will be happy, if not, watch out, it could get ugly.

3. Mike Vanderjagt was released from the Cowboys on Monday. Some say that this is a bonehead move because he only missed 5 field goals this season. As far as his attitude and the way he carried himself around the locker room, he will not be missed. We all saw the self-pity show he gave himself for missing two field goals vs. the Colts. Adn the Boys won that game. Did you see all the players congratulating him for a touchback on the opening kickoff on Thanksgiving? Since when do players do that? Kickers are not exactly looked upon as athletes by other football players, so why were they all getting excited for a touchback. Plus there was his show on the field goal he made by showing an unidentified Cowboy on the sideline he was upset because it barely got in. Vanderjagt was the player that needed to be told he was a good kicker and player. Always needing reassurance. That of course puts his mental toughness in question. I don't think he ever got over his missed kick in the playoffs vs. the Steelers. All I know is that if you get excited over a touchback, then there is a problem.

4. Vanderjagt needed to be released because his attitude and tougness made him a liability in Bill Parcells' eyes. But still was he not better than Martin Gramatica? The guy has not kicked in the longest time and has not kicked full-time since 2004. I just hope the game does not come down to a field goal. At least he does not carry the baggage Vanderjagt brought.

5. The Giants meltdown was probably a crushing loss that most teams normally cannot recover but I just have a feeling that no team could lose that many consecutive games in a row which is why I feel they will make the Cowboys play on Sunday. If the Giants do lose, than I will officially bury them. The Cowboys need to get Eli Manning rattled early and force him to make throws in a hurry. If it goes according to plan, Manning will become the Manning we have seen the last few weeks, confused and mistake-prone. He does not seem to have the "it" factor most coaches and players use to describe quarterbacks. Most feel Romo has it. MAnning does not have that Ican see but he has never been a really fired up, ra-ra kind of guy. But they don't need to bench him and head coach Tom Coughlin should only be fired if the meltdown continues. If a rebound happens, then no, keep him.

6. I at first called Giants defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka play of letting Vince Young go a stupid play. But then I watch MNF and saw the bogus roughing the passer penalty called on Packers defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins on Matt Haselback. Clean play. That is why Kiwanuka stopped tackling him. HE thought he heard the whistle and did not want to risk a roughing the passer penalty. The refs and league are so overprotective of the QBS that defenders are afraid to do anything to them. So people need to lay off Kiwanuka and Tom Coughlin should not have chewed him out. I'll excuse that for heat of the moment and probably hoping he had time to reflect on his thought process. But the league has to get the competition committee together and decide how to approach this roughing the passer penalty because the calls are ridiculous. They should only be called if the play outcome was affected by the tackle, or the QBs' health was in jeoprady.

7. Michael Vicks' actions are inexcusable. I don't care how bad the fans are getting on you, do not flip them off. I now it was again probably heat of the moment but showing discipline is alsp showing how you control your emotions. People need to lay off Vick though. He needs receivers who can hold on t the ball. Plus coaches need to use his talents and work and adapt to them instead of the other way around and try to change them. I don't think the Titans are changing much about Vince Young and I don't think anyone can name any of his receivers. Let Vick be Vick.

8. What the Lions did to Joey Harrington was classless. Calling his name out only after introducing the defense so the fans can boo? Also playing the Billy Joel classic "Piano Man", a reference to Harringtons' piano skills? All Harrington did was work his butt off for the last four season which is more than what I believe MAtt Millen has done along with Charlie Rodgers and Mike Williams. At least Harrington got the last laugh.

9. The Bears I feel look vulnerable. The defense is still the league's best but the play of Rex Grossman makes them vulnerable. It is possible to beat them but it will be a 13-10 victory. Grossmans' play has sparked rumors of his benching in favor of Brian Griese. Since when did Griese become the second coming of Sid Luckman? Was this not the same guy who could not do the job in Denver, Miami, and Tampa Bay? Yes he carried Michigan to a national title but still I have questions if he can lead the team to the Super Bowl and if the Bears are truly better off.

10. The Broncos bench Jake Plummer for rookie Jay Cutler out of Vanderbilt. I don't know how to feel about this move. Plummers play is not very comparable to the likes of other QBs that were in questions such as Drew Bledsoe, Rex Grossman, and Mark Brunell. But if Cutler is the future, play him.

11. The BCS rankings are out. Ohio State-USC looks like a real possibility and as a fan, I would love to see it. If USC loses to UCLA, which I doubt, Michigan should get the rematch with Ohio State. I am not impressed with Florida because of the narrow margin of victories. I know the SEC is probably the toughest of the conferences and that teams like USC, Texas, would probably lose 3-4 games annualy if playing in this conference and Florida should be giving credit by having only 1 loss in the conference. But you need to destroy an opponent that matters more than a few times to convince the voters that you are worthy. But until there is a playoff, we will always have this discussion.

12. Colt McCoy did not look healthy in the game against Texas A&M and probably contributed to their last two defeats. But look up Texas fans, the future is bright with this guy at QB. I smell a BCS championship in the future soon.

13. Dennis Franchione saved his job with that win against Texas. He had been winless against Texas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska the four seasons he has been here until that win.

14. That was not an illegal forward pass in the Chargers-Raiders game when Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson spiked the ball after catching a pass and not being touched by an opponent, a common rookie mistake, and instead of ruling it a fumble, the Chargers are penalized for an illegal forward pass and eventually convert and score to get the win.

15. The Rangers need to get in the free agent hunt. Alfonso Soraino and MArk Derose to the Cubs, Carolos Lee to the Astors. Adam Eaton to the Phillies. Gary Matthews Jr. to the Angels. David Delluchi to the Indians. And what do the Rangers have to show from the free agent market? Frank Catalanotto. No disrespect, he is a solid player, but that is not going to get butts in the seats in Arlington. I still will go but a lot of people are going to turn away.

16. Manny Ramirez rumors are swirling. The Rangers are reportedly in the hunt. Don't give up the farm for this guy. If he costs us one minor league pitcher, than go for him, buit other than that, don't. The Red Sox should want to keep the guy. He never has been a problem with his teammates, just the media, front office, and fans can't stand some of the stuff he does. I tell you one teammate that will be mad if he leaves, David Ortiz. Watch his numbers drop if Ramirez is gone, not protecting him in the order.

17. $136 million for Soriano, $100 million for Lee, $ 50 million for Matthews, and $33 million for Eaton. I thought the spending was going to die down. Thes contracts are ridiculous.

18. Mark McGwire is up for the Hall of Fame Ballot. The only evidence we have against McGwire on him possibly taking steroids is his refusal to talk at the Congressional hearings two years ago. Other than that, there is nothing but a bottle of Andro in his locker room to hold anything against him. I am glad I am not a voter in this situation. I do not know what to do. To single him out would also mean to single out at leasts hundreds of others in the same era who probably doped up as well. Personally, I think I would not vote him in. I just could not live with myself if I voted him in.

19. Bret Saberhagen said he would not go into the Hall of Fame until Pete Rose goes in. That is noce but wait, he is Bret Saberhagen. HAll of Fame and Bret Saberhagen do not go together. Tell me when a true Hall of Famer says this.

20. Usually too early to talk about the NBA but I want to talk about Ben Wallace situation in Chicago. Wallace is being benched because he wears a headband and one of head coaches Scott Skiles rules is no headbands. Reportedly this was told to Wallace when he was about to sign with the Bulls in the offseason. If that is true than Wallace has no arguement, he should just stop and not wear it if he knew about it from the start. But the rule is stupid. What is the big deal about the band? Drop the rule Skiles. It is not like skipping or being late to practice or team meetings.

21. Who caught the Broncos-Chiefs games on NFL Network?

22. John Fogerty did a great job at halftime on the Lions game. They need him to be the halftime show at the Super Bowl. If Billy Joel is doing the national anthem, this would be a great tribute to classic rock.

23. The flex schedule looks to be working for the likes of CBS, Fox and NBC but it is really hurting the fans. If I had a game for the Saints-Cowboys game in two weeks originally scheduled for noon and now has been moved to 7:15, I would be ticked off. People buy these tickets because of the date and time. I know NBC wants more quality games to show but I switched to Desparate Housewives and Boston Legal during the Eagles-Colts game on Sunday. The game has to be good suits.

24. Saw the ebay prices on the Playstation 3 going into the 7-figure range. Ridiculous.

25. AJ Feely needs to start for the Eagles.

26. Brady Quinn in Lions silver or Raiders silver? Either way I would pull an Eli MAnning and bolt for greener pastures, of course look at what good it has done for Manning.

27. Troy Smith for Heisman.

28. Charlie Weis is not a football genius but he is a good coach.

The vault is empty and I am gone. See ya.